Development of an RNA Probe for Extracellular Matrix Protein Tenascin-C to Ascertain its Involvement in Osteoarthritis

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Abstract

Tenascin-c is an extracellular matrix protein thought to be responsible for various
anti-adhesion properties of articular chondrocytes, among other things. Articular
chondrocytes are responsible for the creation of articular cartilage in the developing
embryo. Later in life, the articular chondrocytes stop producing cartilage and actually
begin replacing pre-existing cartilage with bone. It is speculated that tenascins reappear
with the onset of osteoarthritis and in some way may mediate the disease.
Thus, a vector that would include a stretch of tenascin-c, a member of the tenascin
family of extracellular matrix proteins, nucleic acids could be radio labeled and used to
detect the presence of tenascin-c in tissues of interest. This summer project did not yield
any significant results and there was no in situ hybridization that would have allowed for
detection of tenascin-c in diseased tissues. Further research is expected to show an
increase in tenascin-c with an increase in the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Future work at the Bone and Joint Center at Henry Ford Hospital will attempt to
create an RNA probe that will then be used to assess the presence of tenascin-c in a
variety of tissues in various stages of diseases.